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The abbots of Rievaulx
There are many uncertainties regarding the precise
dates that particular abbots presided over Rievaulx and in some
cases there is doubt as to whether some actually held the abbacy.
This makes it difficult to compile an exact and agreed chronological
list
of Rievaulx’s abbots from the foundation of the abbey in
1132 until its dissolution in 1538. The following list is therefore
a guide to the abbots of Rievaulx and the dates of their abbacies.
It is largely based on The Heads of Religious Houses in England
and Wales, volume I, edited by Knowles and Brooke, and volume
II, recently revised, by Smith, but draws also on Clay, ‘The
early abbots of the Yorkshire Cistercian houses’ and Atkinson’s
list in his edition of the Rievaulx cartulary. Where there is doubt,
Heads has been followed. Evidence for the sixteenth century
is taken from Cross and Vickers, Monks, Friars and Nuns in
Sixteenth Century Yorkshire.(1)
Abbots of Rievaulx
| Name |
Dates |
Comments |
| William, first abbot of Rievaulx |
1132-45 |
Read more |
| Maurice |
1145-7 |
Read more |
| Aelred |
1147-67 |
Read more |
| Roger |
- |
An Abbot Roger is included in some lists of Rievaulx’s
abbots, but there is no evidence for such an abbot having presided
over the abbey at this time. |
| Silvan (Sylvanus) |
1167-88 (resigned) |
Read more |
| Ernald |
1189-1199 (resigned) |
Read more |
| William (Punchard) |
1199-1203 (died) |
King John appointed Abbot William to notify the other Yorkshire
Cistercian abbots that he, the king, intended to found an abbey
of the Order; in 1215 he founded Beaulieu, in Hampshire. |
| Geoffrey |
1204-? |
Geoffrey was sent to arbitrate in a dispute between the Cistercian
communities of Fountains and Byland. |
| Warin |
1211-? |
|
| Elias |
1211-1215 (resigned) |
Elias had officiated as cellarer of Rievaulx and was appointed
abbot in 1211. He resigned in 1215 and from 1217 presided as abbot of Rievaulx’s daughter-house, Revesby. (2) |
| Henry |
1215-1216 (died) |
Henry had previously officiated as abbot of Rievaulx’s
daughter-house at Warden. He died and was buried at Rufford Abbey in 1216. |
| William |
1216-1223/4 (died) |
Before succeeding to the abbacy of Rievaulx, William had
presided as abbot of Holm
Cultrum and also of Melrose. |
| Roger II |
1223/4-39 (resigned) |
Read more |
| Leo (Leonus) |
1239-40 (died) |
Leo had been a monk of Melrose and abbot of Dundrennan and
presided over the Rievaulx community for a short time before
his death c. 1239-40. |
| Adam de Tillatei |
occurs 1240, 1265, 1266 |
|
| William |
occurs July 1268 |
Should perhaps be identified with William (de Ellerbeck),
below |
| William (de Ellerbeck) |
professed obedience 1275; occurs 1280s |
Should perhaps be identified with the Abbot William named
above |
| Thomas |
1286-7 |
|
| Henry |
?1301/2 |
|
| Robert |
1302-1307/8 |
Possibly died at Margam Abbey, c. 1307/8, when conducting
a visitation of the abbey. His grave slab is at Margam |
| Peter |
professed obedience 1308 |
|
| Henry |
occurs August 1308 |
|
| Thomas |
occurs 1314/1315 |
|
| Richard |
occurs June 1317 |
|
| William |
?-1318 |
Should perhaps be identified with William de Ingleby, below. |
| William de Ingleby |
?-1322 |
May
be the same as Abbot William, above |
| William de Langton |
1335-? |
In 1335 William served as commissioner to the bishop of Lincoln. |
| Richard |
1349-? |
|
| William |
? 1361; occurs 1380 |
|
| John |
occurs 1380 |
|
| William |
?-1409 |
|
| John |
?-1417 |
|
| William Brymley |
?-1419 |
|
| Henry Burton |
1423-29 |
Henry had been a
monk of Sawley Abbey. He was elected to the abbacy of Rievaulx
in 1423 and presided until 1429. |
| William Spenser |
1436-1449 (resigned) |
|
| John Inkeley |
?-1449 |
|
| William Spenser |
1471 (re-elected) – 1487 |
|
| John Burton |
1489 – 1508/9 |
Read more |
| William Helmsley |
1513-28 |
|
| Edward Kirkby |
1530-1533 (deposed) |
Read more |
| Roland Blyton |
1533 (elected) – 1538 (resigned) |
Read more |
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